Omwa Ombara
29 March 2008
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Nairobi — Thursday, March 27, was World Theatre Day. Started in 1961, the occasion is used to mark "the beauty of performing arts". Locally, despite perception that theatre died in the 1990s, it is alive and kicking. As Governor of the Emirate, Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, said during this year's celebrations: "Theatre does appreciate beauty, and one could even argue that no art form is capable of capturing beauty more faithfully than the theatre. Theatre is an all-encompassing receptacle for all forms of beauty, and those who do not value beauty cannot value life."
Local theatre lovers recall with nostalgia the heady years of the 1970s and 1980s at the Kenya National Theatre (KNT) and the Donovan Maule.
The Kenya National Theatre. The building was deserted on Thursday despite being the World Theatre Day. Picture: Maxwell Agwanda
Then, thespians were unkempt, shaggy looking people who had no time to comb their hair, wash their faces or brush their teeth. Their worn out shoes revealed stories of poor artistes with big names but no cash.
Today, some artistes have not only made it with big names but with big cars, posh houses and flashy clothes.
Theatre then, was just a plays' galore. The University of Nairobi's Free Travelling Theatre was abuzz with popular characters like the late Opiyo Mumma, the late Joni Nderitu, among others.
Then Ugandan Cultural Troupe from the department of arts, Theatre and Dance from Makere University would take over the stage at ED II Theatre.
Male university students, then known as 'cockroaches' because of the way they would sneak into the female hostels in the dark, would scream and screech in appreciation of the dancers' tantalising gyrations.
Talented thespians
They also would have gone any length to date the female thespians.
Talented thespians like the late Whispers (Wahome Mutahi), David Mulwa, Joy Mboya (Godown), Ian Mbugua (Phoenix) and Lorna Irungu, John Sibi Okumu were so funny they would send their audience into stitches for weeks.
Special tribute goes to the Vitimbi group and its troupe of Ojwang' Hatari (Benson Njau), late Othorong'ong'o (Joseph Anyona), Mama Kayai, Amka Twende (Benjamin Otieno), Ondiek Nyuka Kwota, Mise, Mola, Mogaka, Kanini, Mwende and Kabro who have made unmatched footprints on Kenya's theatre lane.
Francis Imbuga's Betrayal in the City, John Ruganda's The Floods, Rebecca Njau's Epitome of Female Resistance, Ngugi's vernacular scripts Ngahika Ndenda and Maitu Njugira and Mekatilili and Prof Wasambo Were's Romeo and Juliet, Africanised version of Macbeth and Kenya National Drama Festival spread like a flu among theatre lovers.
The late Ashina Kibibi sends us down the memory lane with her popular Swahili drama series on Kenya Broadcasting Television, especially Tausi.
Many will recall the signature tune, Chura Punguza Vituko ahead of Vituko drama series that featured the late Mzee Mombasa, Mama Kerekani, Nundo Wakomeo, Zoa and Subira. Vioja Mahakamani beats them all.
The theatre scene has come a long way. From the days when Heartstrings Ensemble's Sammy Mwangi staged plays to an empty hall at KNT to performing to full audiences, presently.
The late East African Standard art columnist, Nigel Slade and Margaretta wa Gacheru gave thespians sleepless nights with their candid critiques.
Unlike local music bands that keep breaking up whenever they attained some success, the consistence and commitment of these theatre groups to hold together has been remarkable.
One cannot forget the national school drama festivals and the harvest of school plays based on set books that have kept the theatre alive, especially during hiatus.
The positive contributions of the director of Culture and Social Services, Mr Silverse Anami and many unsung heroes cannot be underestimated. Let the play go on!
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